Puig Major – The Big One!

Only attempt this if you can be sure of the weather, and the roads are dry. You must be sure of your own abilities and your machine’s, both for extensive climbing and for descending. This is a hard 85 mile ride - plan for a rest/recovery ride the next day! Extra clothing and rain wear should be carried, as it can be much colder in the hills and certainly on the long descents. Make sure you stay hydrated, and carry some high energy fuel. A flasher light is advised for the 2 tunnels.

Follow the coast road north towards Puerto Pollensa, but turn left midway along bay from Alcudia onto quiet road to Pollensa. Turn right on main road to main traffic Island, where left (care) towards Lluc Monastery. Gradient varies, so take it steady. If you need to stop at the Monastery, you probably shouldn’t continue to Soller, but return south at the next junction to Selva. If you still feel strong, continue along the mountain road following signs to Soller. The descent to the right down Sa Calobra (the snake) to the sea should not be combined with this ride; but it is a challenge for another day. The road is 6 miles down, and 6 miles back! At the bottom are cafes, and the beach accessed by a tunnel through the rocks. Coaches take tourists down to boats which ferry them to Port Soller. The boats will take bikes, but you’d still have to climb back out of Soller. A possibility is to use the waterpipe road to reach Port Soller via Bunyola, take a boat, then climb Sa Calobra and return via Pollensa. Continue the climbs past the 2 lakes and through the 2 tunnels, past “The Pig!” to the right, before descending. Take great care - even in the dry experienced riders and their bikes are sent clattering down the tarmac on bends. Avoid Soller town, (unless you are a train spotter), continuing south on the C711 towards Palma. The drag leads to the Soller tunnel, but your route turns left up the Soller pass just before the tunnel!

The climb is hard, the hairpins tight and slippery, and it seems endless; it isn’t, and there is a café at the top! Descend the tricky hairpins to rejoin traffic leaving the tunnel. Shortly turn left (care) into Bunyola. If you did not stop before, the café at the square on the right provides the necessary refreshment, and bottled water.

Follow the PM202 south, keeping left to Santa Maria del Cami. Turn left at the main road, then right in direction of Sencelles, but look for minor road left which is the Waterpipe road. Remember there is a stretch of rough surface before the staggered junction with the Inca-Llubi road. Continue and turn left (care) to Sa Pobla. Find your way through Sa Pobla, following signs for Pollensa but locate the start of the “Marshes Road”, and back via Alcudia.